Pushy or Persuasive?

[BoatThatRockedFan]

I recently received some very positive feedback on a project I did from a high profile person who is connected to the project. I am unsure as to whether I should now contact the director and tell him about this feedback or not.

The director and I have exchanged emails before and have always been on very amicable terms but I recently contacted him to tell him a piece of similar (but much less impressive) feedback and he did not reply. I know he is probably very busy and has better things to do than reply to my emails but I don’t know whether I should take his lack of response as a hint that he did not like me sharing such news with him.

It is unlikely that the high profile person who gave me this recent piece of feedback will be in contact with the director and so will probably not have given the director any feedback on me himself.

I feel like if the director knows that I have been getting these positive reviews he will be more likely to cast me any future projects. But I also don’t want to appear too pushy.

It’s a fine line and I don’t know what to do. Please help.

[Genevieve]

you've already been in something that the directors seen - so he'll know what you'll capable of already. It is a fine line, as you say, but emailing the director to tell what someone else has said about your performance (even if it is from someone high profile) may do you more harm than good, it may irritate. He'll know you're keen because you say you've emailed him before.
It is frustrating in a way, as I understand that you are really pleased and excited with the feedback you got from this high profile person and want to tell this director, but the director will have formed his/her own opinion, so be optimistic that its also very positive, and the director will consider you for future projects anyway.
And when you next see this director, on any further projects you could mention how much you enjoyed the last one, and how reassured you felt following positive feedback from XXX (the high profile person) - being subtle and mentioning in conversation, ...then at least it's 'out there' and you won't implode Good luck, be positive, your work will speak for itself !

[BoatThatRockedFan]

Thank you so much for your advice. I really appreciate it.

I have had someone else say the exact opposite so if anyone has any more advice it would also be much appreciated.

[pg]

I agree with Genevieve and I think the suggested way of bringing it in to any future conversation is a good one, if you feel the need to do it. Otherwise though, unless it's a published review (which lets face it, the director is likely to have seen), I think anything else is likely to come across either as slightly insecure or as bragging: neither of which will endear you to a director!

The director will have his/her own ideas about how well you did and isn't really likely to be influenced by what someone else thought. The only exception to this is if the influential/high profile person is putting up the money next time...

Contacting people you have worked with before is fine, but really you need to have some relevant news to impart, unless you are friends. Directors are inundated with contacts, so often won't respond unless they are a) very polite b) have the time c)think you have something they need.

Next time you are in something, or if you have some other relevant news, let the director know - otherwise I think contact will be seen as a bit irritating. How did you feel about the advice that was the direct opposite of this? Did it seem right to you?

I think it's helpful sometimes to ask yourself how you would feel to be on the receiving end of an email/letter you propose to send, imagining you are the director. If it's chatty, interesting news you might be happy to receive it but not bother to reply. If it's saying how much someone had enjoyed YOUR work (i.e. someone saying they've been to see something you directed and telling you how much they enjoyed it), you'd probably be pleased, but might not bother to reply (though it would be polite to do so). If someone wrote to say they'd enjoyed working with you, you'd probably be pleased, would hopefully reply, but would probably feel a bit "stalked" if they kept doing it. If it's someone telling you that they would be suitable for something you are currently casting, you would probably read it but would probably only bother to reply if you were interested in auditioning them (because it would almost certainly be one of hundreds of contacts). If it's someone telling you that they thought someone you had cast was excellent, you would probably read it and consider whether or not you agreed and file away the information. If it is someone who feels the need to tell you that someone else had said that their performance in something you had directed was great, well, how would you feel about the person sending you that information?

[Genevieve]

I have had someone else say the exact opposite so if anyone has any more advice it would also be much appreciated.

One thing to remember maybe is: 'if you do email'.....You might end up being remembered by this director for the WRONG reasons !!...
As PG's said.....you might 'irritate' him ! and bear in mind he would probably , so far, remember your name favourably come any future projects !

[BoatThatRockedFan]

Thanks so much to both of you